Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 2, Episode 4: Inca Mummy Girl Review

Inca Mummy Girl
Original Airdate: October 6, 1997
Writers: Matt Kiene & Joe Reinkemeyer
Director: Ellen S. Pressman

This episode, following the classic “School Hard”, is a let down because of the season one concept remnant of using horror movie icons for story ideas. However, it does tie into the theme of the season: Buffy trying to achieve a sense of normalcy while balancing her duties as the Slayer. So this works to bring in a character, Ampata, dealing with similar issues, but, her dilemma doesn’t quite mesh or develop as would be hoped.

Instead this episode is another example of how Xander has awful luck with women, with his ill-fated romance with Ampata. Granted, Ampata is beautiful, but Xander and Ampata fall for each other a little too easily, making the tragic romance angle forced. It’s especially frustrating when the show has a far better tragic romance between Buffy and Angel. Maybe if they had Willow and Xander fight early in the episode, making this a little more about getting back at Willow.

Ampata, as a person, isn’t evil. However, her need to feed off the life of others makes her so. But the juxtaposition of this against Buffy hiding her slayer identity doesn’t fit. Maybe if someone else, like that goofy guard, was taking lives to support her, it would’ve clicked better. Perhaps this idea worked better on paper.

It is implied that Ampata was a Slayer as well, which helps explain how she could take on Buffy and not get a swift beat down. Unfortunately, her people took this as a sign of witchcraft and killed her. This angle could’ve been explored more in depth as it worked with the major themes of the season. Slayerdom has changed a lot in the five hundred years between Ampata and Buffy. While Buffy can’t have a totally “normal” life, she is far better off in modern California.

There are some glaring plot holes through the episode. How is Ampata able to get clothes? Certainly Buffy would be willing to let her borrow some, but wouldn’t she grow suspicious if she asked everyday for them? Although it may be just because they are teenagers who obviously spend a lot of time internalizing things, but wouldn’t either Buffy or Ampata realize that they’re acting similarly to cover up their secrets?

Plus, it’s ignorant of the gang to believe that Ampata would be able to decode that seal. Just because someone’s from another country doesn’t mean that they are an expert on the history and customs. This is one of those situations where they’re acting dumb for the sake of the story. And let’s not get started on the ethnic stereotype parade at The Bronze (why would The Bronze hold a school event), even if Willow in the Eskimo outfit was a little funny.

The biggest contributions of this episode are the introductions of Jonathan and Oz. Oz has a more substantial role, but his character is so far defined as having a crush on Willow (and appearing a little bit bored with his band). It’s forgivable since his character grows a lot in subsequent episodes.

While this episode has a lot of sloppy moments in construction of the plot, there are still elements of the season in place. This theme, unfortunately for these episodes, wouldn’t kick in until the final third of the season, where some real magic happens.

Score: 5/10